loose valve cover gasket/oil spraying?

[RossT]

93 metro/1.0/automatic/new rebuilt engine installed last april

This morning, we had our first cold spell. Temps were down to -5 F. Got off work at 7am and drove home. Went back out to the car to take my daughter to shool and hour later and saw a fare amount of oil dripping from multiple places underneath the metro.

This is a rebuilt engine that I installed last spring. For the valve cover bolts I was told by "partdinasaur from e-bay" to use "00" faucet rubber washers. Well they worked just fine up to now. No leaks. I took a 10mm socket set and was able to tighten all 4 bolts down many turns.

So it looks like my valve cover became very loose in the cold temp causing oil to leak.

My question is: Should the oil spray out? I had oil on the radiator fan motor, some spraying on the distributor, even the front of the TB carb had oil on it.

I would think that the oil would just leak or drip out not spray out, or do I have way to much pressure or a bad PCV valve. I haven't had a chance to check the PCV valve yet, to dang cold out.

Thanks for any input.

Ross in ND

[91Caprice9c1]

Spray her down good and clean, and watch her with the hood open. Give it some revs. With a leak like that, it shouldn't be hard to find. Oil does fling around pretty violently under the valve cover of these things.

-MechanicMatt

[RossT]

"Oil does fling around pretty violently under the valve cover of these things"

This is what I was looking for. Thanks

No more leaks yet on the pavement yet. Haven't had a chance to wash it down, were still below freezing.

Next time I will buy the actual metor valve cover washers things. I know that you get them from rock auto.

[leonbentz]

Okay, I would check the PCV and make sure it's clean and the piece inside is loose. If the PCV stops up, then you will get pressure inside your engine and then causing it to blow oil. If it leaked for a bit, then stops, then likely the PCV got stuck temporarely. After a while, these things get loaded up with oil and when it freezes, then the oil inside, gets like glue. Just pull it out and clean it out with carb cleaner. The valve cover on these things are excellent, for keeping oil in, so it would take something of this nature to make it loose oil like that.

I hope this helps.

[91Caprice9c1]

Are faucet washers suitable for use in oily environments? Wont oil corrode rubber that isn't specially designed for it? -shrugs- Just thinking out loud. It certainly wont hurt to check that PCV valve +1.

-MechanicMatt

[HannabilRox]

I know what happens driving a Metro for just a few miles without the oil cap, I can imagine a loose valve cover! When I install a Metro valve cover, I usually add a little silicone gasket sealer around the valve cover grommet holes just to be sure.

[TENGRAM]

x3 on the pcv valve. you should replace it regardless. if its not functioning to its fullest potential it will cost you power (and fuel economy), just think of the pressure those pistons are fighting against. reason why crankcase evac systems are so popular w/ the drag racers.